73.

Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat

Hipposideros fulvus

French: Phyllorhine fauve / German: Gelbrote Rundblattnase / Spanish: Hiposidérido leonado

Other common names: Fulvus Roundleaf Bat

Taxonomy. Hipposideros fulvus], E. Gray, 1838,

“ India, (Madras.).”

Hipposideros fulvus was formerly included in the ZrâoZorspecies group, but its position in the phylogeny is unclear and its taxonomy requires further study. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H. f. fulvus]. E. Gray, 1838 — Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Also recorded from W Yunnan in S China, but assignation to this subspecies uncertain.

H. f. paUidus K Andersen, 1918 -NE Afghanistan to NW India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 40-50 mm, tail 24-35 mm, ear 19-26 mm, hindfoot 6-10 mm, forearm 38-44 mm; weight 8-9 g. Noseleaf of the Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat is without supplementary leaflet. Intemarial septum is somewhat flattened and slightly wider at base. Pelage is variable from dull yellow to pale gray, dull brown or golden-orange, sometimes with whitish-gray patch around shoulder. Rostrum is robust Braincase and sagittal crest are low. Zygomata are slender with moderate dorsal process. P2 is small, situated in the tooth row or slightly extruded. Baculum is small, with straight shaft and simple base and tip. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FN = 60.

Habitat. The Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat is found in lowland forest, thorn scrub in arid regions, and hill forest.

Food and Feeding. The Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat uses a slow fluttering flight to feed on insects close to the ground, but is also recorded feeding in the canopy. Preferred diet includes cockroaches and beetles. The species appears to favor medium-sized insects, perhaps to avoid competition with other Hipposideros .

Breeding. In Maharashtra, breeding occurs in mid-November. Gestation takes 150-160 days. Females give birth to a single young in late April and early May, and lactation was observed until late July. Young bats of both sexes take 18-19 months to reach sexual maturity.

Activity patterns. The Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat was observed leaving the roost long after dusk, and often revisiting the roost during the night. It roosts in caves, rock crevices, tunnels, old houses and other buildings, and wells.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat roosts in small groups of a few individuals or in colonies of over 200. It is known to share roosts with Leschenault’s Rousettes { Rousettus leschenaultiî), Indian Leafnosed Bats { H. lankadiva), Indian Rufous Horseshoe Bats { Rhinolophus rouxii), and Schreibers’s Long-fingered Bats {Miniopterus schreibersii), but it remains separated from other species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The major threats to the Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat appear to be habitat loss and human disturbance.

Bibliography. Bates & Harrison (1997), Srinivasulu & Molur (2008a).